Monday, September 19, 2016

I'm going to post my official 36 week post tomorrow, as I have a doctor's appointment and want to wait until after. So. For today, a little Dominican recap.

In July, Moose, both of my parents, my sisters, and my brother all went with our church to the Dominican Republic. You all are probably quite tired of hearing about my love affair with this country and this trip by now, but sorry...my blog, so I win!

It truly broke my heart to not be able to attend, but I am so grateful I could help in the ways I did (and I'm also grateful my sweet girl was free and clear from any sickness or issue that could've taken place).

On Friday morning (think 3:30 am), we met together, prayed and departed for the airport.

Once we dropped the crew off in Atlanta, I got tons of pictures! Strangely, the majority of photos I received weren't from our people...rather, they were from our translators and many Dominican friends! Grateful for these precious people keeping in touch. One of them told my mom she is also pregnant and due in October. She begged us to pray that her baby boy would be kept safe from any effects of the Zika virus (and update ... he was born a healthy sweet boy on the 18th of Sept!)

Our sweet group on the plane.

Nancy, a translator sent me this bumpy bus ride picture to prove that my people made it to the DR safely!

The first day, the group got the opportunity to serve a meal to the church. They cooked and hosted a domino tournament on this day as well.

Several local men playing dominoes.

The kids were allllll about some Mr. Micah! He spoke the language and was definitely a fan favorite.

Some sweet pictures from the week, showing the local people, the work (construction, kids club, and sewing class), and other happenings.

Two days, a group got to participate in a sports camp. Micah shared his testimony and they were truly able to connect with a group of basketball players. Both Mackenzie and Micah were able to share their shoes with some players who played competitive ball. Love this!

To share one more quick story, you may remember that my trip last year was "laborers". Moose went this year, and his trip was wheelbarrows. Moose did not get as much person to person interaction as I did in the Dominican republic. He did a bunch of construction and spent a lot of his time wheeling sand from place to place. They also did a lot of painting, building walls for several locations, and constructing a bathroom. His trip was wheelbarrows because during several of the trips back and forth, back and forth, many children would jump into the empty wheelbarrow. This gave the men a unique opportunity to play with the children and reach out to them in a special way. These kids were not kids from the school. They were street children or children from the inner-city part of the community. It shows that even in the most menial tasks, one can reach out if they take the opportunities that God provides for them. While it was more difficult to push a wheelbarrow full of children, these kids were touched eternally and hopefully will begin to attend a church and Sunday school activities at the building where the men were doing construction.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ;) I shopped for maternity clothes, treated my pregnant feet to a pedicure, and tried to keep busy!

Chelsea and I painted our nurseries. It resulted in a beautiful pink one for her, and a gray one for me. However, as Murphy's Law would have it, we found a house that we are in love with that very next week! Here is hoping that The next owner likes the gray nursery that we worked so hard on!

I also got to work on several pieces of nursery furniture… Luckily those will go with us! I did this cube organizer and had to paint it literally five times plus polyurethane it…phew! Then, this cute little end table that we had found at a yard sale also! Thank goodness for Downton Abbey to keep me occupied during this time :-)

I tidied the laundry and hung a gallery wall as well. Had to keep busy!!!

I was so grateful to get my people back! I missed them so desperately on this trip… But I was so grateful that Moose got to experience this time! The Dominican people are some of the most generous and precious people that I have ever met and I am so proud to claim them as some of our own brothers and sisters in Christ.

Hopefully, we will get to share this joy and brotherhood with Eva Kate one day.

I have no idea where week 34 went ;) It flew by and I have no picture to document that it existed! So...moving along to week 35. Yesterday, we hosted Chelsea's baby shower and our friend Margaret took some fun maternity pics. I'll share more, but the official sneak peek is here:

Best moment this week: Hosting Chelsea's shower yesterday. It has been so fun to walk through this season together.

Movement: She has decided that she wants to help my tummy to stretch by pushing as hard as she can in a spot for an extended period of time. So fun........sort of.......

Food cravings: ice...all shapes, sizes, kinds. It is sort of obnoxious to all around me!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Indigestion and gallbladder pain are here to stay

Have you started to show? still feeling that third trimester "huge"

Gender: all things girl around here :)

Belly Button in or out? hanging in there...barely

Wedding rings on or off? Either rocking my Walmart rings or my band from when I worked at CFA.

Milestones: Big girl is between 18-19 inches (and may not grow any longer) and around 5 lbs. Her hearing is fully developed and she is ready to go. Weird, but true fact--her home (my uterus) is 1000 times its original size. WHAT?!?

Major Happenings: Weekly doctor visits. Tomorrow, I will see the doctor who delivered Micah, Mackenzie, and Morgan...too weird!

What's Been Going On: Feelings-wise, Not a whole lot new here....I am having a difficult time sleeping and moving faster than a waddle/walk! She is taking up all of the room.

Life-wise: I feel like a broken record--cross country, long-term sub for Mrs. Bumgarner, and attempting to sell our house! We also gave Chelsea's shower this week. More about that to come. Small groups started back this month and I am LOVING being back with these women.

Looking Forward To: Fall weather! We have some really exciting XC meets coming up and I am so ready to see what our kiddos can do.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Both July and August flew by with such vigor,I can hardly explain it. People told me that second trimester went by the fastest and they weren't kidding. I blinked and it is September!!! SO..I have lots of catching up to do on the blog front.

We'll start with life lately from July.

As you know, we had my family and Moose's family in for July 4th weekend. We had such a good time celebrating and relaxing with our families together :)

Later in July, Moose went with a group from our church to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. I have such a heart for that culture and the trip itself, but wasn't able to go this year due to the Zika virus outbreak and my pregnancy. I loved being able to help and prepare, but missed actually being there with the people.

One of the precious women gifted us with a hand embroidered towel for Eva Kate. I will treasure it!

While Moose was gone (along with my parents, sister, and brother), Chelsea and I got busy....

Two baby girl nurseries well on their way to being ready!

Slushies for days :) Gotta make the pregnant girls happy!

I ran a race with our Cross Country team! It was my last running experience in this pregnancy and I struggled...but I am so glad I finished it. I love running and am grateful to have been able to do it as long as I did during the pregnancy.

Oh, and in case you missed it, we put our house on the market in July. We are still patiently (ha) waiting on that front, but trust that God has a plan! Continue to pray with us on that front please ;) :)

We went with Micah and Chelsea on a date night to see a play in Pelzer and just enjoyed some grown up time together after a super busy month! July was crazy, but I wouldn't have life any other way! (I think the guy beside me would prefer if it would slow down a tad!!!)

Best moment this week: Apple picking with the family :) We got some yummy apples and lots of cute pictures

Movement: Yes!

Food cravings: ice...all shapes, sizes, kinds

Anything making you queasy or sick: my indigestion has decided it wants to come back. I think she is taking up all of the room in my belly

Have you started to show? still feeling that third trimester "huge"

Gender: all things girl around here :)

Belly Button in or out? hanging in there...barely

Wedding rings on or off? Either rocking my Walmart rings or my band from when I worked at CFA.

Milestones: Big girl is between 17-18 inches and around 4 lbs. That seems so big...almost "normal baby size!" I feel like things are happening so quickly. She is keeping her eyes open when she is awake and major brain development happens this week.

Major Happenings: Back to the doctor tomorrow!

What's Been Going On: Feelings-wise, Not a whole lot new here...still enduring gallbladder and indigestion issues. Praying this mess goes away when Eva Kate clears out some room in there!

Life-wise: cross country is gearing up! We also are still sitting with our house on the market--pray for patience and clarity please!!!!!!